If you're really mile munching during the cold months, look for something that extends as high up your leg as possible for extra warmth and the most tech you can afford. If you're riding a bit less outdoors and maybe just doing winter race series or fast club rides, a thinner option such as the Velotoze will probably cover it. The Achilles heel of any overshoe tends to be its sole. First, it needs to have a couple of holes in it to fit over your shoe’s cleat and heel. This inevitably lets water in, which can creep into your shoe’s upper and through vent holes in its sole.

And, if you’re keeping it indoors, here’s everything you need to know about indoor cycling, training apps and the best smart trainers. The cuff extends a good way up the ankle and there's a nice wide elastic gripper to keep it in place. I can't stand overshoes slipping down during a ride so this was welcome. The zip is moved to the side to keep it out of the way of spray and has a neoprene guard inside to prevent water from working its way in.I wore them on an autumn day when there was a lot of standing water from heavy rain and they were perfect at keeping the spray away without my feet overheating. If you riding or racing hard in foul conditions the Velotoze are cheap and can be really useful to improve aerodynamics or keep spray water at bay. Into the third hour of one ride, the rider whose wheel I was on had a poor mudguard flap which just flung water at my feet and left leg constantly and I could feel water breach my left Pro II after a while, but my foot stayed warm thanks to the neoprene construction. The Spatz are not totally waterproof but if water does breach them you will stand a good chance of keeping your feet warm.If you're doing any sort of cycling in colder winter temperatures and conditions a pair of cycling overshoes are worth investing in. Anything over around an hour on the bike in the cold and wet and there's a fair chance you will have soaking and cold feet. Yes, you can tough this out and ride for hours but we can promise it won't be comfortable and you'll be using energy trying to stay warm that could be used elsewhere. We've ridden for hours in winter with frozen feet and it's miserable. A pair of overshoes will protect your feet and keep them warmer and if water eventually does work its way in, you will be 'wet but warm' instead of frozen to the bone. Our advice is to invest in a budget set of neoprene overshoes, put some time in with them on the bike and get an idea of what you like, and what you don't. Should I get overshoes or toe covers?

Putting on a pair of Pro 2s does feel like you are ready to go to war in the sense that you feel protected from the elements. Once you've done it a few times, the overshoes are on in minutes and putting them on certainly isn't a battle. I've ridden for over three hours in them in sleet, snow and sub-zero conditions and they performed brilliantly with my lower legs and feet staying warm. The Estremos use the popular Gore-Tex Infinium material on the outer panels to keep the wind at bay and a seriously plush Polartec Power stretch fleece on the inside. There are also reflective details and a bright red YKK aqua guard-sealed Zipper. Galibier produces good quality cycling kit that is great value for money. The Arctic 3 overshoes are hefty 4mm neoprene units and have a very interesting moulded rubber toe box for added durability. When the temperature drops but the desire to ride remains you need some serious protection for your feet, these oversized BBB Arctic Duty overshoes could be the answer.Also, you’re going to end up walking in your overshoes at some point, and you’ll have to put a foot down at junctions or stops, all of which subjects them to wear. Just as you may not need full winter boots, full shoe covers might be too warm. Toe covers, as the name suggests, only cover the toe box of your shoe, ending just past the cleat, which helps to hold it in place.They tend to be fairly cheap but for the usually reasonable price can fill a useful gap in your wardrobe for spring and autumn cool conditions.

The Assos GT Ultraz winter overshoes are a premium, sleek and stylish offering that are relatively thin compared to some neoprene offerings. Spatz overshoes are the brainchild of former professional rider Tom Barras who after years of training and racing in the wet created the overshoes and wet weather products he always wanted but found didn't exist. We say 'complete waterproofing', but it's worth remembering that there are still holes at the top, cleat, and heel, so like any of the options here, water can find its way in during the worst of the downpours. Also, be aware that breathability is reduced, so you might find your feet damp from sweat too.

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The simply named Endura Road Overshoe in Hi-Viz Yellow is another competitively priced neoprene option, one that has been a cornerstone of the Endura overshoe line for years.

If you're riding in foul weather conditions and want excellent wind and rain protection without the full bulk of a heavier-weight neoprene overshoe then the Fiandre is a solid option. For milder conditions where it's not freezing but there's plenty of road spray, it's the one I would opt for.Like the rest of the overshoes in the test, I used the overshoes on a couple of nights when it was around -3C - maybe a little bit colder with the windchill - and they did a really good job of keeping me warm. Due to the Polartec fleece and Infinium material, they do become waterlogged in sustained heavy downpours, but deal with showers and spray well, and I almost relished heading out into the freezing night with them on due to the lovely plush fleece they use on the inside.